Vehicle axle sleeve



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Aug 6, 1940-y E. T. PRICE 2,210,499

VEHICLE AXLE SLEEVE Qriginal Filed Oct. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U3 ORw INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNET STATES PATENT OFFICEVEHICLE AXLE SLEEVE @riginal application October 10, 1934, Serial No.747,676. Divided and this application August 19, 1938, Serial No.225,753

5 Claims.

This invention relates to multi-wheeled vehicles, and more particularlyto sep-arable sleeves for the axle thereof. i One of the prime objectsof the invention is the provision of an axle having sleeves designedwith cylindrical faces to which the vehicle radius rods are connected,so that each wheel may yield to road irregularities withoutsubstantially transmitting shocks and strains to the frame of the i"vehicle.

Anothel` object is to provide an auxiliary axle attached in tandem witha driving axle, and provide sleeves on said axle which are soconstructed and connected to the driving axle that it is T free tofollow any motion of the vehicle Without imposing tortional twists orstrains on the vehicle frame and chassis, and without tire slippage.

A further object is to design an auxiliary axle -0 including sleeveshaving swivel connection with a driving axle so that there is notransfer of load from one axle to another as the wheels assume differentlevels, thereby insuring each axle carrying the same proportion of thetotal load regardless of wheel levels.

A still further object is todesign an axle sleeve combination of sturdyconstruction, which can be readily manufactured and assembled, and whichcan be easily attached by unskilled labor with d@ a minimum of time andlabor,

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is `a fragmentary side elevational View of a multi-wheeledvehicle including the radius rod, axle sleeve, and other cooperatingparts, the axles and sleeve being shown in section. i 40 Fig. 2 is a topplan View, parts being broken away to show the construction andarrangement.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional side View showing the radius rodassembled on the axle sleeve. 4D Fig. 4 is a part sectional plan Viewthereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail rear View showing the axle,

axle sleeve and spring perch.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan View illustrating thebearing blocks, the 50 broken lines showing them in adjusted position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the bearing blocks.

The present invention is particularly applicable to the rear auxiliaryaxle of a multi-wheeled 55 vehicle, and is a division of my previousapplication for patent entitled Wheeled attachments for motor vehicles,led October 10, 1934, Serial #747,676, now Patent Number 2,137,699,November 22, 1938,

In order that the invention may be clearly 5 understood I have shown therear portion of a vehicle frame which is indicated at B, and a pair ofaxles I 0 and II arranged in longitudinally spaced parallel relation,each axle-being provided at the opposite ends thereof with road engagingl()r wheels Cas usual, and While in the present instance I have shown afragmentary View of but one side of the vehicle, it will be understoodthat both sides are identical and are constructed in exactly the samemanner.

Brackets I t are secured to and depend from vehicle frame A, and atransversely disposed shaft I3 is rigidly mounted therein, spring chairsI 4 being journaled on the end sections of the shaft I3, and leafsprings I5 are mounted thereon as 20 usual, radius rods I6 beingconnected to the spring chairs and to the rear axle, and I do not deemit necessary to describe this entire assembly in detail, the descriptivematter being confined to the means foi` providing a swivel connectionbetween theends of the radius rods and the rear axle, and to which thisapplication is directed.

The axle sleeve I'I is formed as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 ofthe drawings, and is mounted on the ends of the axle I I, the outer endbeing llanged as at I8 to facilitate attachment of a brake plate, (notshown) one of said sleeves being revolvably mounted on the axle, theopposite sleeve being secured to the axle by means of a set screw andlock nut (not shown). This permits the radius rod and sleeves to rotatewith relation vto the axle as is necessary when one wheel drops into a.depression in the roadway while the companion wheel remains level orrides over a raised surface or obstruction.

Cylindrical faces orsections I9 are formed on the iront and rear wallsof the axle sleeve Il, and the rear end of the radius rod I6 is formedwith an opening 20 to accommodate said sleeve and axle, the rear wall ofthe opening 20 being 45 shaped to conform to the curvature of thesection I9 and forms a part of the swivel joint as will be' hereinaftermore fully described.

A vertically disposed rib 2| is provided on the front Wall which denesthe opening 20, and tapered bearing blocks 22 are arranged on eitherside of said rib, said blocks being provided with a curved face 23 whichface also conforms to the curvature of the section I9. 'Iransverselydisposed openings 24 are provided in the blocks 55 22, and bolts 25serve to secure them in assembled relation.

This arrangement provides a swivel connection between the radius rod andthe rear axle, so that the wheels on said axle may follow anyirregularities in the surface of the roadway without bending, twistingor imposing tortional strains on the vehicle frame.

This construction also eliminates the pins used in conventional swiveljoints, and it can be adjusted to compensate for wear, etc., bytightening the bolts 25 to draw the blocks towards each other', and asindicated in broken lines shown in Fig, 6 of the drawings, or shims (notshown) may be inserted between the blocks and the wall of the opening ifdesired.

A spring perch 26 is mounted on the sleeve I1 by means of bolts 21 andaccommodates a wear pad 28 on which one end of the spring l5 rests inthe conventional manner.

This design provides a very substantial, desirable and economical swiveljoint construction which has large bearing areas and which can bereadily adjusted to take up wear.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms, and the presentembodiment is therefore to be considered illustrative rather thanrestrictive, the scope of .the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range ofequivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim is:

l. The combination in a motor vehicle, of an axle having an axle sleevemounted thereon, individual, curved surfaces on said sleeve, said curvedsurfaces being disposed at right angles to the longitudinal center lineof lsaid sleeve, and a radius rod embracing said sleeve and providedwith curved surfaces in facial contact with said cylindrical surfaces toform a swivel joint thereon.

2. The combination in a multi-wheeled motor vehicle of an axle havingaxle sleeves mounted on the opposite end thereof, cylindrical shapedoppositely disposed sections formed integral with each sleeve, saidcylindrical surfaces being disposed at right angles to the longitudinalcenter line of the sleeve, and a radius rod formed with an openingembracing each sleeve and forming a swivel connection with thecylindrical sections.

3. The combination in a motor vehicle having rear axles arranged intandem, of axle sleeves on the rear axle, and having cylindrical shapedsections cast integral therewith, and a radius rod embracing each sleeveand provided with socket connections to provide a swivel connection withsaid sleeve, and means for adjusting said socket connections.

v 4. The combination in a motor vehicle of a rear axle having axlesleeves mounted thereon adjacent the ends of the axle, cylindricalshaped sections formed integral with each sleeve, a radius rod embracingeach sleeve and provided with adjustable socket connections disposed infacial contact with said cylindrical sleeve sections to form a swiveljoint, and means for adjusting said connections.

5. The combination in a motor vehicle, of a rear axle provided with axlesleeves on the opposite ends thereof, opposed cylindrical face sectionsformed integral with said sleeve, a radius rod formed with an openingembracing each sleeve, one wall of said opening being shaped to t andswivel on one of said face sections, spaced bearing blocks interposedbetween the opposite wall and the opposite face section, and means foradjusting said bearing blocks.

EDWARD T. PRICE.

